SOME Bradford City fans have questioned why the club's players did not wear poppy emblems on their shirts during a televised FA Cup clash on Remembrance Sunday.
Despite a traditional two minute's silence being held before Sunday's game, a number of supporters took to social media to register their concerns after the Bantams FA Cup first round victory over FC Halifax Town whose players wore shirts with poppies.
Conner Conley, of Liversedge, said: "I'm disgusted.
"A lot of fans were talking about why didn't the shirts have a poppy on. Halifax had poppies on, the NFL players at Wembley on Sunday had one, so why have Bradford not got them?"
Mark Lawn, Bradford City co-chairman, yesterday did not want to comment to the Telegraph & Argus about the issue.
But he stressed the club will be holding a season-long commemoration to the Bradford Pals during the 2015/16 campaign to mark the 100th anniversary next year of the Somme.
No-one knows for sure how many Bradford Pals were lost on July 1, 1915, as record-keeping in the chaos of battle was difficult.
But the Bradford World War One Group believes 1,394 men went 'over the top' and 1,017 of these were either killed or injured.
Mr Lawn said: "It's going to be a year-long thing, not just for one game."
Speaking on the FA Cup clash, Mike Harrison, of Shipley, editor of the Bantams' 'City Gent' fanzine, said: "I can see both sides on this one.
"If a Conference side like Halifax can do it, why can't a League One side like Bradford City?
"I don't think the club have done it deliberately. I think it's just an oversight by the club. I don't think it's embarrassing for Bradford City.
"A small minority of people have taken umbrage to it.
"People should do their own personal thing, rather than being forced into something.
"I don't think every side had a poppy on their shirts in the FA Cup last weekend. City do as much as they can.
A Royal British Legion spokesman said: “We take the view that the poppy represents sacrifices made in the defence of freedom; and so the decision to wear it must be a matter of personal choice.
If the poppy became compulsory it would lose its meaning and significance.
"We are thankful for every poppy worn, every shop that allows poppy collections, and every employer that permits the poppy to be displayed - but we never insist upon these things or claim a natural right.
To do otherwise would not only be contrary to the spirit of Remembrance and all that the poppy stands for.”
Meanwhile, Premier League clubs have worn a specially designed 'Football Remembers' poppy on their shirts to commemorate the centenary of the First World War over the past couple of weeks.
The shirts from each club are then expected to be auctioned off to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.
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